Ed466 941 - The Role of Career and Technical Education in High School

The infusion of career-based education throughout the curriculum as academic and technical curricula are integrated across all subject areas and grade levels is substantially changing the delivery and focus of K-12 education despite the lack of evidence substantiating the effectiveness of the following school-to-work (STW) reform concepts: whole school reforms; work-based learning; career academies; and contextual learning. A perceived success of STW may not be attributable to career-focused education or integrated curricula. Rather, success may arise from concurrent implementation of other reforms. The following strategies, which can all be implemented without a career focus and absent contextual or work-based learning requirements, have shown evidence of being more likely to raise student achievement: (1) all students complete a challenging curriculum that includes college preparatory courses in English, mathematics, and science; (2) graduation requirements are increased; ( 3 ) all students complete either algebra or pre-algebra by the end of grade 8; (4) teachers set high expectations for all students through challenging lessons and rigorous assignments; (5) students are taught by teachers who are knowledgeable in their subject; (6) early and continual guidance and advisement concerning postsecondary options and choice of high school courses is provided; and (7) small learning environments, including smaller high schools and schools within schools, are created. (Contains 36 references.).